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  The Shooting Star

  The big day had finally arrived!

  Itty felt like she was floating on a cloud. At school, the teacher dismissed class early so everyone could get home before the shooting star celebrations began.

  When Itty got home, she gasped. Gold streamers dangled from the ceilings and glitter-filled bubbles floated all around.

  Itty’s parents were there to greet her.

  “We have a surprise for you, princess-to-be,” the King said, taking Itty by the paw. He led her upstairs, stopping just before her bedroom door.

  “I know you said you didn’t want a new room,” he began. “But your mother and I thought you might want to see what the royal architect did, and then decide.”

  Itty took a deep breath and opened the door.

  First she noticed the things that were still the same, like her bed with rumpled blankets and the squishy beanbag chair filled with magic beans.

  Then she noticed all the new things, like the giant climbing structure with fluffy pillows at the tippy-top, and a huge bookshelf filled with brand-new books. She saw the treats dispenser and felt her tummy rumble just from looking at it. And her bed wasn’t the same bed after all! It still had the same crumpled covers she loved, but it was a new bed with a beautiful canopy on top. The closet was three times the size of Itty’s old closet, and it was filled with princess dresses! And Itty noticed not one of them was made of lace. She thought about what Luna would say. She’d love Itty’s new room. And Itty had to admit … she loved it too.

  Itty grinned and turned to her dad. “I guess I can accept one new thing!”

  “I thought you might say that,” her dad purred, pulling her in for a hug. “And this,” he said as he pointed to a beautiful glass case, “is for your shooting star when it arrives.”

  “Speaking of your shooting star,” said the Queen, “it’s time.”

  Itty went to the balcony with her mom and dad. A few moments later, a brilliant light flew across the sky. Itty’s shooting star was the most spectacular sight Lollyland had ever seen. Itty was so starstruck, she couldn’t even hear the other creatures cheering, or the mermaids singing, or the fairies clapping. The star came closer and closer. Finally, it arrived. It floated for a moment right in front of Itty’s nose.

  “Take it, darling,” said Itty’s mom. And Itty did. As she grabbed it, she felt her heart swell, and she knew in that moment that she really was meant to be a princess. She was still herself, but she was now Itty Bitty Princess Kitty.

  More from this Series

  The Royal Ball

  Book 2

  The Puppy Prince

  Book 3

  Star Showers

  Book 4

  Keep reading for a preview of

  The Royal Ball

  by

  Melody Mews

  Knock-knock.

  “Are you awake, Itty?”

  Itty Bitty Princess Kitty yawned. “Yes, Mom,” she murmured sleepily.

  “Don’t fall back asleep in that cozy new bed of yours,” the Queen called from outside her room.

  Itty giggled. Her new bed was part of a whole new bedroom that was fit for a princess. Just yesterday she had simply been Itty Bitty Kitty. But then her eighth shooting star had arrived, which meant that today—and forever—she was Itty Bitty Princess Kitty, Princess of Lollyland!

  Itty got out of bed and walked toward her new closet. She paused in front of the display case that held her glowing shooting star.

  Itty couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.

  And she still couldn’t believe she was a princess. Some of the changes, like her new room, had excited Itty. But others, like getting a new hairdo or being palace-schooled, hadn’t. Those changes had made Itty worry she wouldn’t feel like herself anymore. Luckily, her parents, the King and Queen of Lollyland, had explained that she could be the princess she wanted to be. She didn’t have to change her hair or be palace-schooled.

  I’m glad I still go to school with my friends, Itty thought.

  Continue Reading…

  The Royal Ball

  Melody Mews

  About the Author and Illustrator

  Melody Mews is a children’s book writer who lives in New York City with her husband and their two cats. Neither of her cats are of royal descent, like Itty Bitty Princess Kitty is, but don’t tell them that because they definitely think they are!

  Ellen Stubbings is a children’s book illustrator and comic artist based in York, UK. She works in a tiny studio, often accompanied by her large tuxedo cat, Fig. Ellen is obsessed with all things cute, and this is reflected in her illustrations.

  Visit us at simonandschuster.com/kids

  www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Melody-Mews

  www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Ellen-Stubbings

  Little Simon

  Simon & Schuster, New York

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  LITTLE SIMON

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  First Little Simon hardcover edition February 2020. Copyright © 2020 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. LITTLE SIMON is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and associated colophon is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc. For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-506-1949 or [email protected].

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  Designed by Laura Roode.

  Jacket illustrations by Ellen Stubbings

  Jacket illustrations © 2020 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Mews, Melody, author. | Stubbings, Ellen, illustrator.

  Title: The newest princess / by Melody Mews ; illustrated by Ellen Stubbings. Description: First Little Simon paperback edition. | New York : Little Simon, 2020. | Series: Itty Bitty Princess Kitty ; #1 | Summary: Itty is excited to learn that she will soon be a princess, until she begins to worry about all the changes her new role brings. Identifiers: LCCN 2019022085 (print) | LCCN 2019022410 (eBook) | ISBN 9781534454934 (pbk : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781534454941 (hc : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781534454958 (eBook) Subjects: CYAC: Cats—Fiction. | Animals—Infancy—Fiction. | Princesses—Fiction. | Change—Fiction. | Unicorns—Fiction. | Fantasy. Classification: LCC PZ7.1.M4976 New 2019 (print) | LCC PZ7.1.M4976 (eBook) | DDC [E]—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019022085

  LC eBook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019022410